Google’s New ‘AI Mode’: Is This the End of Endless Search Tabs?

Alright, folks, gather ’round. Chad here, cutting through the AI hype to bring you the real deal. Google just dropped a new experimental feature called “AI Mode” in Search, and it’s got my attention. Why? Because it might actually save us from drowning in a sea of search results.

Basically, Google is trying to muscle in on the territory of companies like Perplexity AI and OpenAI’s ChatGPT Search, which is to give you answers, not just links. This new mode, rolling out to Google One AI Premium subscribers via Search Labs, lets you ask complex, multi-part questions and dig deeper into topics directly within Google Search.

Gemini 2.0 to the Rescue

AI Mode uses a souped-up version of Gemini 2.0, and it’s designed for those questions that usually require a ton of research and comparison. Think about it: instead of opening ten tabs to figure out the best sleep tracker, you could just ask: “What’s the difference in sleep tracking features between a smart ring, smartwatch, and tracking mat?”

The AI is supposed to give you a detailed comparison, complete with links to the sources. And here’s the kicker: you can then ask follow-up questions like, “What happens to your heart rate during deep sleep?” to keep the ball rolling.

Google says that in the past, this would have taken multiple queries. No kidding! Anyone who’s ever tried to seriously research something knows the pain of endless tabs and fractured attention.

How Does It Work?

According to Robby Stein, VP of Product at Google Search, people are asking questions that are twice as long as traditional searches and are following up about a quarter of the time. This thing uses a “query fan-out” technique, which basically means it runs multiple related searches at the same time across different data sources. Then, it pulls those results together into something you can actually understand.

Google claims the model is prioritizing facts and backing up its claims with verifiable info. Apparently, it’s extra careful in sensitive areas like health. And if it’s not confident in an answer, it might just give you a list of links. Honesty? I can respect that.

Don’t Get Too Excited Just Yet

Google is upfront about the fact that this is an early experiment and it will likely make mistakes. Shocker. But they’re planning to make it more visual and pull in info from more sources, like user-generated content. They’re even teaching it to figure out when to add a hyperlink (like booking tickets) or when to prioritize images or video (like how-to queries).

If you’re a Google One AI Premium subscriber, you can try AI Mode by opting into Search Labs and tapping the ‘AI Mode’ tab. Or, just head to google.com/aimode. On your phone, look for the ‘AI Mode’ icon in the Google app.

They also launched Gemini 2.0 for AI Overviews in the U.S., which should help with tougher questions like coding, advanced math, and multimodal queries. Plus, you don’t need to sign in to use AI Overviews anymore, and teens can use it too.

Chad’s Takeaway

Look, I’m cautiously optimistic. If AI Mode can actually deliver on its promise of simplifying complex research, it could be a game-changer. But let’s be real: it’s Google. They’ve got a history of launching cool stuff that ends up in the tech graveyard. I’m hoping that this will save me time and open browser tabs. Time will tell if this is a true innovation or just another shiny object.

And, don’t forget, you can eliminate all the AI overviews from your search results with one well placed F word. How to Make AI Search Results Disappear with a Single Bad Word